Scotland captain Brough gets called into the England fold as McNamara names his elite

ENGLAND coach Steve McNamara believes Huddersfield Giants star Danny Brough can finally help revitalise the country’s kicking game.

He has named the in-form scrum-half in a 32-strong Elite Training Squad that will form the nucleus of the national team between now and the Rugby League World Cup in 2013.

Brough captained Scotland in the last tournament three years ago but has since pledged his allegiance to the country of his birth and has been pressing for inclusion ever since his high-profile switch from Wakefield to Huddersfield last March.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sometimes a rogue character during a colourful career, which has included spells at Hull FC and Castleford, no one can doubt the Dewsbury-born player’s kicking ability and McNamara believes he has matured into a player who could become the pivot of his England side.

The coach was at the Galpharm Stadium on Sunday to see Brough, 28, destroy Hull with his measured kick placement, a skill which was badly lacking in England’s poor Four Nations campaign last autumn.

“Danny is showing a level of consistency in his game now,” said McNamara. “He has some very good talents which can be of benefit to England and, after he expressed his desire to play for us, I’m more than happy to have him on board. He’s come from Thornhill in Dewsbury and is as English as they come.

“We looked at a few areas after the Four Nations where we can improve and obviously kicking was one.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s such a very important part of the game nowadays and so many tries are scored from kicks; Danny’s ratio is right up there with the best.”

The squad includes 15 players who were involved in the 2010 Four Nations although Brough’s Huddersfield team-mates Kevin Brown and Darrell Griffin, along with former Bradford prop Stuart Fielden, have been axed and Giants hooker Shaun Lunt has dropped down to the new England Knights programme along with Ryan Atkins and Darrell Goulding.

The ETS players will meet at regular intervals throughout the year for training and will receive targeted support from national coaches and performance experts in partnership with their Engage Super League clubs.

In addition, McNamara has revealed details of the Knights programme featuring 25 players from 11 Super League clubs who will supplement the pool of players available to the national team and add valuable pressure for selection among the sport’s top stars.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Joining Brough in the ETS are Leeds scrum-half Rob Burrow, St Helens stand-off Leon Pryce and Warrington half-back Richie Myler, who have been out of the international fold in recent years, and a group of exciting youngsters who have impressed McNamara.

They include young Leeds full-back Ben Jones-Bishop and 20-year-old Hull KR prop Liam Watts, who is joined by Robins team-mate Kris Welham.

“Just as players such as Liam Watts and Paul Prescott will learn a lot from the likes of Adrian Morley and Jamie Peacock in the ETS, Ryan Atkins and Darrell Goulding can lend their experience to the Knights players,” added McNamara.

The ETS and Knights will get together for the first time next week for the first of three two-day camps scheduled for 2011.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

England’s 32-strong elite training squad: Chris Bridge, Ben Harrison, Adrian Morley, Richard Myler, Ben Westwood (all Warrington), Tom Briscoe (Hull), Peter Fox, Liam Watts, Kris Welham (all Hull KR), Rob Burrow, Ryan Hall, Ben Jones-Bishop, Danny McGuire, Jamie Peacock, Kevin Sinfield (all Leeds), Danny Brough, Eorl Crabtree, Leroy Cudjoe, Luke Robinson (all Huddersfield), Michael McIlorum, Paul Prescott, Sam Tomkins, Joel Tomkins, Sean O’Loughlin (all Wigan), James Graham, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Leon Pryce, James Roby, Michael Shenton, Jon Wilkin (all St Helens), Tony Clubb (Harlequins), Brett Ferres (Castleford).

England Knights’ 25-strong squad: Joe Arundel, John Walker (both Castleford), Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley (both Warrington), Jodie Broughton, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Smith (all Salford), Josh Charnley, Liam Farrell, Darrell Goulding, Stefan Marsh, Lee Mossop (all Wigan), Paul Clough, Jonny Lomax, Scott Moore (all St Helens), James Donaldson, Elliott Whitehead (both Bradford), Dale Ferguson, Michael Lawrence, Jermaine McGillvary, Larne Patrick, Shaun Lunt (all Huddersfield), Luke Gale (Harlequins), Kallum Watkins (Leeds), Joe Westerman (Hull).

Bulls’ double blow: Page 19.